The diversity and range of career possibilities in engineering will be showcased at a special interactive event for students and jobseekers at IT Sligo on Thursday May 5.
The Engineering Expo 2016 is a free public event, bringing together leading national and international engineering practitioners along with training expertise in the sector, and schools from across the North West region.
The Expo will be held in IT Sligo’s Knocknarea Arena and is open to students, parents and jobseekers who are interested in finding out more about the vast array of jobs available in engineering, and the skills needed to get them.
Visitors will have a real opportunity to speak face-to-face with existing engineering professionals, as well as current students.
“The purpose of the event is to highlight the vast range of career paths open to students and jobseekers,” said Mary Nolan, the Engineering Expo coordinator.
“There is a wonderful diversity within engineering – and this event will strive to illustrate that. Engineers are problem solvers, organisers, communicators, calculators and designers. They make a difference to people’s lives every day.”
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Nicholas Metry, a third year electronic engineering student, and John Ward, from Ward Automation, get to grips with a robotic arm[/caption]
A recent survey of professional jobs by the Morgan McKinley Employment Monitor has identified engineering as one of best performing sectors in the Irish economy. While there has been an increase in the numbers of professional emigrants returning to Ireland to meet the current shortage of skilled people, the demand for engineering talent remains high.
About 30 national and international engineering firms will showcase at the Engineering Expo, including Intel, Stryker, Abbott, Mergon, Valeo Vision Systems and AbbVie.
Sligo-based LotusWorks, a leading provider of engineering and technical teams which support manufacturing for organisations globally, will also be there.
The company’s CEO, Fergal Broder, says the need for qualified engineering talent across a range of industry sectors is critical to the economy’s continued development and growth.
"We see a continued demand for engineering talent and the application of engineering into new industries and technology innovations making it a key profession for the future,” said Broder.
The event will also feature contributions from existing engineering students from the Sligo IT’s wide variety of engineering programmes including mechanical, electronic, mechatronic, precision, civil and environmental engineering.
Dean Sammon is a third year mechatronics mature student at IT Sligo. Sammon said his decision to study engineering has opened up doors to new career paths, which he might not have previously considered.
“I decided to go back to college as a full-time student. This allowed me to advance my career. I’m in the final year of my studies and I am already impressed with the doors for employment that are beginning to open.”
The Engineering Expo at IT Sligo’s Knocknarea Arena takes place on Thursday, May 5, from 4 to 8pm. Admission is free.
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